While the central events of this significant year were ones of devastation and defeat, 1666 also offers a glimpse of the incredible scientific and artistic progress being made at that time, from Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity to Robert Hooke's microscopic wonders. Based on original archival research and drawing on little-known sources, 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire takes readers on a thrilling journey through a crucial turning point in English history, as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary cast of historical characters. Shedding light on these dramatic events, historian Rebecca Rideal reveals an unprecedented period of terror and triumph. The outbreak of the Great Plague, the eruption of the second Dutch War and the Great Fire of London all struck the country in rapid succession and with devastating repercussions. Highly recommended for anyone interested in 17 th-century European history or the history of science.1666 was a watershed year for England.
It is this human element that makes 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire convincing and hard to put down. Isaac Newton, exiled from London by the fire, continued his work at a farm with an apple tree. Pepys awakened at 3:00am, saw fire several streets away, and went back to bed. Written accounts by contemporaries-people in the streets and geniuses behind the scenes-comprise much of 1666, making it a must-read. Science flourished alongside superstition. Afterwards, many thought tragedy was God’s punishment for sin. It was impossible to control, building to an inferno that destroyed most of the city in four days. The restored monarchy was at war with the Dutch and French, thousands had died of bubonic plague, and religious dissent was growing. Rideal, editor of “The History Vault,” calls 1666 the most devastating year in English history.
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